Hebrews 12:1,2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
In chapter 11 we are given a list of people who did things by their faith. We certainly do like to preach on them, hold them up as something special. But chapter 12 starts out by saying that you and I are compassed about or encircled by so great a crowd of witnesses. These people are in essence watching us. Not because we are something special, but they are looking to see if we are going to follow the example. Are our eyes on the example?
Those folks are not our examples. We are not examples. Jesus is the example of faith! Everything He did was by faith. He lived by faith, performed His miracles by faith, prayed by faith, and died by faith.